Mr Plaskitt said: ?I?m very involved with all of this and I can?t really say on every issue exactly what?s going on, as it is very commercially touchy at the moment.

?I have already had one meeting with the management of the company and we plan to hold another meeting next Friday. ?I?m in touch with the regional government office, so I?m pulling out every stop at my disposal in the hope that we can come up with an alternative to all the jobs that are going up to Manchester.?

Benford was bought by Terex Corporation in 1999 and the Warwick operation is being moved to a Terex site.

The American-based firm, which makes dumper trucks and compacting equipment for the construction industry, has about 10 plants across Britain and Ireland.

It closed one in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, last month and plans to close the Warwick site by the end of next year.

When Tony Gardener, Benford general manager, made the announcement he said the Manchester production facility was modern and efficient and would provide a good opportunity for future growth.

A Terex spokesman said the European market had become increasingly competitive, leading to the relocation plan.

The loss of the Warwick factory follows 21 job losses at dumper truck firm Thwaites, in Cubbington, last November.